Category: scooters

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This 1932 Ford Roadster replica (VIN RC3237) is a 3/4 scale custom build comprised of a fiberglass body and track-style nose on a custom built frame and suspension, with a drivetrain donated from an early flat-four Honda GoldWing motorcycle. Dubbed the “Honster,” the car features impressive build quality and is said to have won its class at the Grand National Roadster Show in 2014. The seller calls it a “proof of concept” show car with only 10 miles since completion, but it definitely looks like a lot of fun. Find it here on eBay in Temecula, California with a $15k BIN.

Photos appear to be from the same show where it was granted an award, and the surrounding cars and bikes help gauge the size of the little Honster. The chassis and suspension are both said to be hand built, with the former finished in an orange powder coat, while the body, nose, windshield and headlights are said to be accurately scaled to 3/4 and wear pearl white with subtle ghost flames. A stainless steel rear bumper and roll bar are additional highlights.

Interior access is limited by a single door on the right side of the car, and the seat measures 34 inches wide. Equipped with only one seat belt, it will seat two, albeit uncomfortably. Interior craftsmanship isn’t a match for the rest of the car, however it’s not bad either, and the continuation of the orange trim is a nice touch, even if we’d prefer a more subtle scheme. The trunk opens, and features similar side panels and carpet as well as an eight gallon fuel cell. Elsewhere, the dash features a full set of gauges including a GPS speedometer.

Mechanical workmanship appears to be rather impressive. Power is supplied by an 1100cc flat-four from an early Honda GoldWing, mated to a 5-speed gearbox from same–the ad doesn’t mention if reverse is featured, though it would be ideal for this application. Torque is put to the ground through a chain transfer to a custom driveshaft, meeting a Datsun pick-up rear diff out back. An Edelbrock air cleaner adds a bit of hot rod appearance to the motor, and Harley Davidson dual pipes should make an interesting noise.

Here’s a look at the chassis just below the cab. Front suspension consists of a dropped axle with Ford spindles, transverse leaf spring with inboard shocks, and Wilwood discs. Quarter inch elliptical leafs with triangulated trailing arms and tube shocks suspend the Datsun axle in the rear–neat.

Said to be street legal, the car hasn’t yet been registered–we can’t imagine that’d be an easy task in California, but it’d be worth trying.

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This 1977 Benelli Sei is an Italian motorcycle featuring its original 6-cylinder 747cc engine that was purchased from its long-term owner who had the bike since 1979. The 750 Sei is notable as the first six-cylinder engine to be offered in a production motorcycle. This bike was ridden regularly until 1995, at which time it received a mechanical and cosmetic restoration. The engine was rebuilt with all new components, and the chassis and ancillaries were fully refurbished. The odometer was zeroed and the bike has done 16k miles in the last 20 years.

The 750 Sei was envisioned by Alejandro de Tomaso and was produced from 1973 to 1989. De Tomaso wanted it to become Italy’s go-to sporting motorcycle with styling by Ghia. The Sei was heavily marketed when launched, and although it was well liked by riders, it could never manage to outsell its Japanese competitors.

Red paint is in good condition and the chrome trim, fenders, and engine components all look nice. Badging is accounted for and in good shape. The bikini front fairing is a period item that can easily be removed for a more sporty look.

The bike is largely stock, with the exception of an aftermarket exhaust setup, seat cover, and turn indicators. Veglia gauges are said to work properly, though the tachometer face is cracked.

The aftermarket seat is in good condition with no tears or stitching issues. A new seat cover is also included.

Up front, handling is achieved with black and chrome 38mm Marzocchi telescopic forks and twin disc-brakes, while the rear wheel utilizes twin shock suspension and features drum brakes. the bikini front fairing is a period item that can easily be removed for a more sporty look.

The 747cc air-cooled inline six-cylinder engine was overhauled by the previous owner in 1995. The engine was modeled on the four-cylinder Honda CB500, with two extra added cylinders. The engine produced a healthy 76hp at 9000 rpm when new, and could propel riders up to 127mph.

The 750 Sei is famous for the sound from its six mufflers. Although this example currently wears an aftermarket unit, a complete new 6 into 6 exhaust system is included. The system can be seen above with period seat cover and new set of stock turn indicators, also included in the sale.

Even with 6-cylinders, the width of the bike was kept at bay by positioning the alternator behind the cylinders. Cooling was increased with air passages between the cylinders, and three Dell’Orto VHB 24 mm carburetors blend air and fuel efficiently. The Benelli 750 Six remained the only six-cylinder motorcycle in production until the Honda CBX was introduced in 1978. Service records from the ’95 resto are included, and the bike carries a clean Florida title.

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This 1957 NSU Prima III was purchased from the collection of well known scooter restorers Tom and Anna Giordano. NSU began producing the Innocenti Lambretta under license beginning in 1950, then introduced the Prima as their own design in 1956. This Prima III was originally equipped with a 146cc engine but has been bored out to the 175cc displacement of the higher priced Prima V. It has been restored both cosmetically and mechanically using many NOS parts acquired by the Giordanos from a former NSU dealer, and remains in good condition.

The scooter is in nice cosmetic condition with fresh paint in a period appropriate pastel green. The trim was restored with a combination of polished original parts and NOS pieces where available. Some of the trim between the two rear side panels is missing but there are no other significant flaws in the bodywork.

The clock and speedometer have been restored. The scooter is equipped with an electric starter and all lights are in working order.

The dual bicycle style seats for the rider and pillion passenger are in very good condition. The grab handle for the back seat rider is still in the protective plastic wrap.

The frame was also cleaned and repainted as part of the restoration, as were the wheels. New tires were fitted.

The mechanical components of the scooter were all refurbished, with the following work performed:

Fully rebuilt engine

Transmission disassembled with any worn parts replaced as needed

Rebuilt carburetor

Fuel tank cleaned out and new fuel lines installed

All cables replaced

Brake system rebuilt

Suspension rebuilt

The engine is a 175cc unit that starts easily and runs well, and with all the mechanical systems refreshed the scooter is said to ride nicely.

The scooter is sold with a Washington state title. These German built NSU scooters are an interesting alternative to the more common Vespa and Lambretta scooters of the era. This example has been nicely restored with good attention to detail and is being offered at no reserve.

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This 1962 Sears Puch Compact Scooter is an early model that has been preserved in near-original condition with 707 miles on the odometer. The scooter is unrestored in bright white with red seat and trim, and features its original 60cc two-stroke engine and three-speed transmission. Sears began carrying Puch scooters in 1961, and though these models can be confused with Sears Allstate brand scooters, they do not have Allstate badges or decals. The owner reports that this Puch starts on the first kick and runs well. The scooter recently received new fluids and is sold on a bill of sale.

The seller rode the scooter during the Bikes & Blues Festival in Silver City, New Mexico in late May, and says it attracted just as much attention as the big Harleys. The seller notes he had the scooter up to 35 mph, but slowed when he remembered the tires and tubes are 54 years old.

The paint, decals, seat cover and foam, rubber floorboard mats, chrome trim, and tires are all said to be original.

Headlight, brake light, speedometer, and horn are said to work. Note the vintage Sears logo on the back of the seat.

Although the scooter has been stored in a garage, some surface rust and paint damage are evident, particularly on the chain guard and the edges of the floorboards.

The engine is a one-cylinder 2-stroke unit with a 3-speed gearbox. When new, the engine produced 3.9hp and was said to get 100mpg. It was reportedly capable of speeds up to 42 mph. Because these models were sold as a “50”, it was not subject to registration requirements, and therefore has never been titled. The seller believes the true displacement is 60cc.

The VDO speedometer and odometer are said to function, and the imperfection in the speedo lens is actually an old spider web. Chrome trim surround shows light pitting.

The model number can be seen on the plate above. The seller recently serviced the scooter by changing the transmission fluid, lubricating cables, and cleaning the fuel tank. He notes that the tires show no dry rot and were retained for originality, but should be replaced before the scooter is driven further. A set of believed original tools are marked as Made in Austria and can be viewed in the gallery below. They fit in a storage compartment under the seat and are included the sale.

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This 1962 Honda CB77 Super Hawk is a second year example of the bike widely credited as the company’s first truly sporting offering. Despite the 77 nomenclature, power came from a 305cc, OHC parallel twin capable of 28 HP and 9,000 RPM. Performance was on par with similarly configured but larger-engined British bikes of the era, with the added benefit of better build quality and reliability. This one looks exceptionally good, and has been restored to what sounds like a highly accurate standard. Find it here on eBay in San Anselmo, California for $5,700 OBO. Special thanks to BaT reader M. Ladd for this submission.

Says the seller: “95% of the parts I used were off of the original bike. Frame and engine numbers are within range to be matching and are the same ones from the original title (in the Honda world this is numbers matching). Clean and clear title in my name, registration just renewed and good to 9/2016.” They go on to detail several fastidious details, including a year-correct taillight, front end, and even correctly-patterned OEM hand grips.

Check out the gauge cluster, which combines a conventionally arced tach and counter-clockwise rotating speedo needle in one distinct housing. Note as well the odd-but-interesting vertical odometer layout, whose displayed 15k and change miles are believed to be correct.

Listed restoration work included new paint and powder coat, new chrome, cables, rubber parts, a reupholstered seat, new nuts and bolts throughout, fresh bronze swingarm bushings, rebuilt carbs, cylinder head, and oil pump, re-sleeved (to factory bore sizing) cylinders, new tank badges, and more. The seller adds that many hours have been invested, with extra effort on keeping the bike as factory-correct as possible.

Though it will never be quick by modern standards, these bikes are fun to ride with nice, tossable handling, an eager, revvy engine, and slick gearbox. Something of a giant-slayer in its day, today the Super Hawk can be viewed as one of–if not the–first “big” bike from Japan, an important role that led the way for the industry as we know it today.

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This 1951 Ardie B-251 is an uncommonly seen two-seater runabout manufactured in Nuremburg during Germany’s post-WWII recovery period. An older refurbishment was reportedly carried out by an American expat in Germany, from whom the seller purchased it while stationed there. The motorcycle was then shipped to the US in 2010, where it has been stored under cover in a garage for the ensuing six years. The engine starts and runs but will need some attention as detailed below. Documentation includes parts invoices and the original owner’s purchase paperwork from Ardie-Werk A.G., and an Ohio title is included.

Black paint still shines well overall but exhibits signs of wear including a handful of chips and a one-inch scratch on the fuel tank, and would likely benefit from a good polish. Pagusa seats, grips, fork bellows and other rubber items appear to be in good shape. A period rack and rearview mirror have been fitted, and chrome spoked wheels wear Metzlers with substantial tread remaining.

Chrome is presentable but shows light pitting throughout, and the normally chrome headlight bezel has been painted black. Age-related patina is visible on badging, fork braces and other aluminum parts. The painted steel double-cradle frame appears largely devoid of corrosion in photos.

Power comes from a 245cc two-stroke single which was last started and run in 2015 – starting is via a kick pedal and the motor runs on a 1:25 oil to fuel mixture. The carburetor will need to be cleaned, a tuneup performed and the battery replaced according to the seller. Peak power came at 5000 rpm and at just under 300 pounds, the B251 was supposedly capable of nearly 60mph when in good tune.

A four-speed manual gearbox is mounted inside the ribbed engine case and sends approximately 10.5 horsepower to the chain-driven rear wheel. Drum brakes are fitted at both ends and suspension is via a standard telescoping fork in front and Jurisch-type plunger in the rear. The bike’s last service was in Germany when it was still being used regularly.

After six years of storage the bike is being sold to help with a move to New Mexico for medical school. A handful of German service records are included in the sale, along with period technical manuals and the bike’s original German title.

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This 1984 Honda VF1000R (VIN SC162002340) looks great and is said to have just 11,484 miles. A Euro import model, official US sales wouldn’t begin until the following model year. Though based on the standard VF1000, bodywork was entirely different, suspension heavily re-worked, and the 998cc V4 gained an exotic, race-bred gear drive for its four individual cams. Though a bit heavy and rather expensive when new, these bikes offered excellent, stable handling, tons of power, sharp styling, and a good degree of exclusivity as well. US models had 125 HP, though this Paris-sourced example should make three less–still enough for a sub 11-second quarter mile time. Said to be all-original apart from the exhaust, the seller further claims perfect running condition. Find it here on eBay in West Tisbury, Massachusetts for $9,500 OBO. Special thanks to BaT reader AMF for this submission.

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This 1971 Honda ATC90 is a third model year example of the vehicle widely credited as the first ATV. There were earlier ATV-like machines of course, but the ATC was arguably the first to offer go-anywhere performance within a neatly packaged, easy-to-ride, reliable, attractive, and compact package. This one appears to be in remarkably well-preserved condition, and a similar, slightly scruffier (but still very nice) bright green example is also available separately. Find the red one here on eBay in Staten Island, New York with reserve not met. Special thanks to BaT reader Kyle K. for this submission.

The trike is described as all-original, and sounds to have been carefully stored by its original owner for many years. Running condition isn’t mentioned, but the seller does refer to condition as “mint.” A few very minor signs of use like the scratched tank show that this assessment is perhaps a bit glowing, but overall, condition does look to be quite impressive.

Power comes from a neatly packaged, 90cc, OHC four good for about 7 HP at 8,500 RPM. This is passed to the rear axle via an automatic clutch (the lever is for the single, rear-only brake) and interesting dual-range 4-speed gearbox–effectively offering eight forward gears. Balloon-like tires appear to be OEM and presumably are still in good shape, as only the green example is said to need new ones–sourcing suitable replacements might not be easy. Low pressure allows for better traction on snow, sand, and mud, and also negates the need for a traditional suspension system.

Notably, the green example is said to run, and the seller adds that it can be had for $4,500. Presumably this red trike is still running as well, as reserve is still not met at $5k at the time of writing.

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This 2003 Ducati Monster 1000 Si.e. has covered just 2500 miles from new and is described as a garage queen in a relatively rare color scheme. Its seller purchased it in 2005 with less than 200 miles, then sold it to his best friend – it then passed through the hands of another mutual friend before eventually coming back in trade. Modifications are limited to a Corbin seat and Remus exhaust, and service records are included. The condition is described as excellent detailed as detailed in the gallery below, and the sale includes a clean New York title.

Initially designed for 1993 by Miguel Galluzzi, the Monster helped usher in the popular “naked street bike” category and cosmetics remain largely unchanged today. This example features a relatively uncommon metallic grey with red three-spoked Marchessini lightweight wheels – its tank, frame, running gear and fasteners appear very clean and retain factory decals.

Up top, a Corbin leather seat was installed by a previous owner – wide bars and adjustable control levers were standard. Few signs of use are present besides a deep scratch in the face of the 11,000rpm tach.

The air-cooled 992cc desmodromic-valved twin was a new iteration for 2003. The Dual Spark injected motor provided roughly 84 horsepower in stock form and a fat torque curve to propel a 415-pound dry weight.

Remus carbon fiber high pipes are the only other aftermarket addition and sound great according to the seller. Overall performance is described as near factory specification.

The video above shows a brief walkaround and demonstrates the engine being started up and how the Remus pipes sound when the bike is revved.

Power is fed through a six-speed transmission to the chain-driven rear wheel mounted in a double-sided aluminum swingarm.

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This 1976 Suzuki RE5 is the second rotary-powered bike featured this week, following yesterday’s impressive and all-original Hercules W-2000 from the same year. Following 32 years in dark indoors storage, this one sounds to be in similar condition with similarly low mileage (~3,700), though the seller does note some light restoration work. Described as fully functional and strong running, it looks to be in very nice shape. Find it here on eBay in Dayton, Ohio with a $9,750 BIN. Special thanks to BaT reader pluckmyeyeout for this submission.

Says the seller: “This RE5 was a true barn find where it sat for 32 years in the dark. No sunlight touched it, hence the paint, seat, tires, and plastic bits are as close to original as you will ever find. The overall condition is excellent, and is very close to museum quality after two years of work.” What that work included is fully listed, though the ad does note some hardware has been replaced as needed, and that the front fender and part of the exhaust have been re-chromed.

Speaking of the exhaust, check out the full gallery and its closeup of a factory-applied sticker sternly warning: “DO NOT MODIFY THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. IT IS DESIGNED TO GIVE MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE NOISE.” Whereas yesterday’s German rotorbike ran an air-cooled, 294cc single-rotor, this one features a 497cc water-cooled Wankel, also a single-rotor design. Though just over twice as powerful with 62 HP, these Suzukis were also substantially heavier thanks to the added complexity of liquid-cooling. This one’s said to be both great running and fully functional.

Looks like the full original toolkit and owner’s manual are included as well. How cool would it be to ride these two bikes back-to-back?